Fairbanks paid tribute to the Alaska Nanook hockey seniors this weekend in what may have been their last home series ever. The Nanooks suffered a 2-1 loss to Notre Dame on Friday and scrapped back for a 1-1 tie in overtime on Saturday.
Forwards Ryan Muspratt and assistant captain Aaron Lee, defender-turned-forward Brandon Gawryletz, captain T.J. Campbell, and assistant captain and goaltender Wylie Rogers were all honored before Saturday’s game.
“When you talk to the seniors that graduated previously, they tell you that four years flies by and you just joke with them,” said Lee in Saturday’s post-game press conference, “You don’t think it’s possible, and then your day comes and it’s gone.”
For the press conference, coach Doc DelCastillo first brought out the entire squad of the Nanooks, sans seniors, and had them form the gauntlet, where the seniors were announced one-by-one and came through to the front.
“When I came to the program, the one thing I wanted to do was (have) this team to reflect the community and what the community stands for as far as integrity, discipline, hard work,” said DelCastillo, “I couldn’t find five guys that represent this program, this community, this university better than what they do. They are what we want Alaska hockey to stand for, so I’d like to have the team do a Nanook salute.”
An overwhelming amount of support rolled through the room for goaltender Wylie Rogers, a Fairbanks native. More than once, the crowd chanted his name as he entered the room, and after he talked about the emotions surrounding the night. Rogers had an amazing performance Saturday, saving 40 of 41 shots and setting a Nanook single-season record of 820 saves.
“This town means everything to me and making the decision to come here to play was an easy decision because as you can see the fan support, my family here, and the guys … I just want to thank everyone and my family and the town for coming out, night in, night out, the good, the bad, we’ve been through a lot,” Rogers said.
All five seniors have been with the Nanooks since they were freshmen, and have made special memories of their time here. “I think beyond hockey, I personally grew as a person,” said Lee, “The people that I’ve met here are unbelievable and I will leave with a lot of family here.”
The mood in the room was both reflective and forward-looking, as the Nanooks’ season is not yet over. The Nanooks face Lake Superior State next weekend in Michigan and the outcome of that game, as well as others within the conference, will determine whether the Nanooks finish in the top eight, thereby earning home ice for the playoffs.
The Nanooks currently sit in ninth place in the CCHA with 20 points. Just above them is Northern Michigan with 22. NMU faces Nebraska-Omaha this weekend and for the Nanooks to jump into that eighth-place spot, the Nanooks have to sweep the Lakers, and NMU has to either lose both games, or lose and tie.